The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-10-06
Kniehfain C,onrenfion.

1 am1NREafOAAISs AIILl.s OCIs I'll uc
delegates to the knights of Labor Gen
eral Assembly rose late this morning.
The ballot at the rink, the interchange
of fraternal greetings at the various
hotels, and the buttonhoIing of dele
gates by other delegates with hobbies,
all conspired to keep everybody up until
late hour last night. The opening
business of the session was announced
to begin at Harmonic Hall at 10 O'Clock,
but at the hour named delegates had
just begun to arrive at the hall. The
decoration gave very attractive effect.
Small tables covered the floor CT the
hall, and from two to four knights sat
at each. For an hour delegates chat
tered in groups either at the tables, or
standing at the rear of the hall. Gen
eral Secretary Charles Litchman, who
arrived this morning, stood at at a lit
tie deck just below the stage, and dealt
out letters and kilograms from q pile
before him. Mr.. Fowderly and Gen
eral Worthy Foreman Griffith, formed
the center of group near the stage.
1t was just IL O'Clock when General
Master Workman took up his gavel
and raped the assembly to order. The
delegates removed their hats and took
seats about the tables. There were
about $50 in the hall. The secret seS-
sion lasted the remainder of the fore
noon.
The knights of Labor early this
morning were talking of the prospects
of to-day's convention. The impression
is that the session will be a lengthy
of Denver, the kicker who is leading
the fight for District Assembly 126,
New York carpet weavers, was at work
among the delegates at the National
Hotel. When asked as to a question of
some Importance that seemed likely to
come before the convention, he replied:
81 don't feel at liberty to state my
views in the matter. 1 do not know as
yet whether am going to be allowed a
probable that there is plan on foot to
keep me OFF the floor" General Mas
ter Workman Powderly address
ed the delegates in a brief speech.
The Committee on Credentials said
they desired to ask favor of the con-
VentiOn. He wanted more time. 1t
would take two or three hours to get his
paper into shape. A delegate moved
an adjournment until p. m, and the
motion was unanimously carried. 1t
has been widely reported that the Gen
eral Assembly was likely to pass resolu-
tions protesting against the death SEN
tence being carried out in the case of
the condemned Chicago Anarchists.
That such resolution will he intro
duced there is little doubt, but that it
will be passed is not so certain. In
fact it is much more likely to be tabled.
A thorough canvass among the dele
gates shows a strong feeling prevailing
that the Knights of Labor should let
the Anarchists alone. One delegate
said: 81 feel that these men were not
fairly tried and doomed to death, but
they are not working men. As Knights
of Labor we have nothing to do with
them. Their case is not one that can
properly come before the General
Assembly
Knights of Labor was again called to
order, and the report of the Committee
on Credentials received. Some 1, $50
delegates were favorably reported,
while few were without the
endorsement of the committee. The
principal case was that of j. r.
Buchanan, the Denver kicker. Over
his admission there was a long and
warm discussion, which was protracted
until 2 O'Clock, when the convention
adjourned until 8 o'clock tomorrow
Buchanan's chances for
admission are regarded as very poor It
is understood that his case, as well as
several others, were given to the Com
mittee on Credentials for further con-
sideration during the night. Perhaps
the most important proposition that is
likely to come before the General As
sembly is a scheme to unite the
Knights of Labor and the National
Farmers Alliance now in session in
Minneapolis into one organization.
The plan now proposed is to make the
Farmers Alliance a national trade
body with the title of National District
Assembly. ''This would make a
team, said leading delegate to-day,
(which would move the earth. With
the farmers with us, we could do what
we would toward the accomplishment
of the purposes of both bodies"